Julian Russell/Staff photographer
Junior forward Jeff Silengo, right, and the rest of the UNH hockey team can't wait for the new season to start in two weeks.

DURHAM — Greg Burke got tired of hearing the same question all summer.

"What happened?"

The University of New Hampshire hockey team was consistently inconsistent last season.

The Wildcats had stretches of 0-4-1, 5-0-1, 1-7, 3-0, 0-3, 5-1-1 and 1-4. The result was their first losing record in 17 years and a sixth-place finish in Hockey East.

"No one forgets the bottom line," said Burke, a senior alternate captain from Lee. "People won't let you forget, not that you would anyway."

The Wildcats also missed the NCAA playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons after reaching the regional final in each of the previous three years.

UNH will host the Northeast Regional next March in Manchester.

"We're an anxious group and a little bit angry with what went on last season," said coach Dick Umile, "and we're looking forward to changing it. Getting off to a good start will be very, very important."

"That's been addressed," Burke said. "We were digging ourselves out of a hole that we put ourselves in all season. It's tough to play all season with your back up against the wall."

The Wildcats realize last year's start, in which they scored just one goal in the first three games combined, contributed to a subpar season.

They don't want to set a similar tone this year. The 2012-13 campaign opens two weeks from today against St. Cloud St. at the Whittemore Center.

That will be the first of four straight home games to begin the season. Last year the Wildcats played four of their first five games on the road.

They went 0-4-1 during that stretch. The early struggles had them playing uphill most of the year.

"We're a group that's disappointed in our overall season last year," Umile said. "I like the way we played in the second half, especially in the playoffs. We're looking to pick up where we left off from there."

UNH's season ended with a 5-4, double-overtime loss to Boston University in the third and decisive game of a best-of-three quarterfinal series.

The Wildcats squandered a 4-1 lead. They've had to live with that outcome for five months.

"It's still with me," Umile said. "Hopefully that will change with our first game. You have to live with that until you get another shot to play."

"That didn't sit well with a lot of guys," said senior defenseman Brett Kostolansky. "They came back hungry."

The Wildcats look solid on paper.

They return seven of the their top eight scorers and five of their top six defensemen.

No. 1 goalie Casey DeSmith, who was third string at the beginning of last year, is also back.

The team is currently engaged in captains' practices. Official practice doesn't begin until Oct. 6 when UNH faces St. Francis Xavier that night at the Whitt in an exhibition game.

"I think a lot of guys are teetering on the edge of a breakout season," Burke said. "That adds to the motivation."

The Wildcats, who were picked to finish fourth in the preseason Hockey East coaches' poll, open the season the following weekend with a pair of home games against St. Cloud.

They open their Hockey East schedule on Oct. 20 at home against Boston University.

"The guys are excited," Umile said. "We know what we're capable of doing. Hopefully we've made some improvements."

UNH struggled in all phases of the game at times last season, and the Wildcats ended up adjusting their goals as the season progressed.

"It's hard to put into words the drive that we have, especially with the tradition we have here," said sophomore forward Grayson Downing, who was second on the team last season with 10 goals as a freshman. "Last year was a disappointment."

Instead of a top-four finish and an almost guaranteed spot in the NCAA tournament, they were just happy to make the Hockey East playoffs. Even if they did have to navigate unfamiliar territory and go on the road for the quarterfinals.

UNH finished 15-19-3 last year with the fewest wins since the 1996-97 season.

"It was an eye-opener for a lot of guys," Burke said. "It's an attitude changer."